Broadcast Buzz 10/1/07
October 1, 2007
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CBS Drops Two More FM-Talkers
October 1, 2007
Dan Mason’s reboot of the changes made during Joel Hollander’s reign as CBS Radio President continues to pick up steam as two more FM Talk stations went by the wayside today.
In Detroit, 97.1 WKRK changes its calls to WXYT-FM and began a full simulcast with “1270 Sports” under the name “Detroit’s Sports Powerhouse”. The new lineup features former WKRK afternoon drive hosts Jeff Deminski & Bill Doyle in mornings, Scott Anderson & Doug Karsch 10am-2pm, Mike Valenti & Terry Foster 2-6pm, Pat Caputo 6-10pm, and Dennis Fithian 10pm-2am in addition to live broadcast rights for Tigers Baseball, Lions Football, Red Wings Hockey, and University of Michigan sports.
Dropped as part of the changes are ESPN’s Mike & Mike, and most of WKRK’s lineup including Opie & Anthony, Johnny D, Motor City Middays with Jay Towers, Bill McAllister, and Shila, and Loveline. More information at Michiguide.com.
In Pittsburgh, “93.7 The Zone” and its “The Man Station” moniker are gone after six short months. The station is stunting with Christmas Music and promoting a new format to launch Friday, October 5th at 5:00pm. In addition, a website located at pitts-urgh.com has launched asking what is missing in the market. What’s missing in the name is “B” as in longtime CHR “B94″ that occupied that frequency until 2004. As we go into Net Gnome mode, both B94.com and B94fm.com are STILL registered to CBS Radio as they never let the domains expire. Unfortunately the WBZZ calls have since been acquired by Regent Comunications 105.7 The Buzz in Albany, NY. More info at PBRTV.com
Broadcast Buzz 10/2/07
October 2, 2007
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Don Imus On Verge Of Return To Radio
October 2, 2007
Neil Best of Newsday reports that Citadel Broadcasting is close to finalizing a contract with Don Imus to launch a syndicated show to be based at WABC or WPLJ in New York.
It is unknown at this time whether Imus would be in his familiar morning timeslot, but Best reports that newscaster Charles McCord will once again be part of the show, but the role of producer Bernard McGuirk is still being determined.
Broadcast Buzz 10/3/07
October 3, 2007
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WCKG Rumor Killer
October 3, 2007
Over the past couple of days a rumor has been going around that an anonymous registration of Fresh1059.com was associated with a possible change at WCKG in Chicago. The domains were registered using a Network Solutions feature that allows a registrant to hide their contact information. All that appears is the name of the registrant, a Susan Hepburn.
If I were Susan Hepburn and I were registering domains for a radio station in Chicago why would I also register fresh1019.com, fresh1029.com, fresh1039.com, fresh1049.com, fresh1069.com, and fresh1079.com?
This is a case of cyber-squatting and nothing more. No connection to WCKG whatsoever. Just like a company in Las Vegas has registered every domain that begins with “Movin” and a commercial FM frequency after it.
We’re not denying that there may still be a change at WCKG, we’re just stating that it has nothing to do with the rumor that’s been making the rounds the last couple of days.
Broadcast Buzz 10/4/07
October 4, 2007
Coming Friday at 5:00pm: B94 Pittsburgh Returns!
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Wolf Howling Into Charleston?
October 5, 2007
Charleston, SC is going to see a shakeup of its radio dial that hasn’t been seen anywhere in quite some time. Here’s a quick rundown of the changes:
The programming shifts may not stop there. With WNKT’s move to the Columbia market failry imminent, Citadel may be looking to keep its successful Country programming in the market. Citadel has registered 21! domains for a programming change at sister “Sunny” 96.9 WSUY. While being the only Adult Contemporary station in the market, WSUY’s numbers have struggled lately and is currently behind the rimshot WNKT. Citadel has registered all of the following domains:
That’s only 7, however Citadel has also registered the .net and .us equivalent of every domain name listed above. Covering all of its bases. While many of the later moves regarding Apex’s stations may not happen until 2008 or 2009, Citadel is about to make the first moves on what will be many in the Charleston market.
Broadcast Buzz 10/5/07
October 5, 2007
Today’s RadioInsight Headlines
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New York Radio Notes
October 6, 2007
New Lineup At WOR
With all of the talk radio buzz currently focused on Don Imus’ rumored return at WABC, 710 WOR has unveiled a new lineup debuting this Monday, October 8.
Bill O’Reilly’s syndicated show moves from 2-4pm to a live clearance from 12pm to 2pm. Westwood One’s Dennis Miller show is added from 2-4pm. Steve Malzberg moves from nights to 4 to 6pm replacing the now departed Hennican & White. Michael Savage stays in at 6 to 9pm, while Dr. Joy Browne is moved from 12-2 to 9 to 11pm.
The morning portion of the lineup remains the same with Joe Bartlett and Donna Hanover from 5-9am, Joan Hamburg from 9-11am, and Food Talk with Mike Colamenco from 11am to noon.
New Middayers at WBLS and WQHT
Jasmine Sanders joins 107.5 WBLS for middays replacing Guy Black. Sanders previously worked at WQOK Nashville and WJTT Chattanooga and was most recently in the record business. Meanwhile at crosstown WQHT, Big Dennis Rivera, who had been filling in since Fatman Scoop left in May is given the midday slot on a permanent basis (or as permanent as anything in the radio industry can be).
Changes in Central Jersey
90.3 WVPH, a joint operation of Piscataway High School and Rutgers University – Livingston Campus has begun transmitting from its new tower on the Rutgers campus. The move ups the station’s power from 200 watts at 141 feet to 100 watts at 369 feet, effectively doubling the stations reach. More in the Home News Tribune.
Down the road in New Brunswick, there’s a new lineup in place at Greater Media AC WMGQ with the departure of PD/Afternoons Tim Tefft. Chris McCoy is still in mornings, Debbie Mazzella who had been APD/Middays at 94.3 WJLK takes over the midday shift, John Lisk moves from nights to afternoon drive, and Jan Ochs shifts from middays to nights. Additionally sister 100.1 WJRZ PD Jeff Rafter adds PD duties at Magic 98.3. Philadelphia radio vet Glenn Kalina takes Rafter’s midday spot at the aforementioned WJRZ.
